Scale



Dec; 8, 1936- E. J. VON PEIN 2,063,712

SCALE I Filed Dec. 50, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

'ATTORNEY 8, 1936. E. J. VON 1 5m SCALE Filed Dec. so, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Nu W ATTORNEY E. J. VON PEIN SCALE Filed Dec. so. 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY E. J. VON PEIN SCALE Filed Dec. 30, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY 8, 1936. E. J. vohi PEIN SCALE Filed Dec. so, 1953 9 Sheets-Sheet e ATTORNEY 3, 6- J. voN PEIN v R 2,063,712

SCALE Filed Dec. 30, 1933 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 v \INVENTOR Huh id ATTORNEY? SCALE Edward J. Von Pe'in, Endicott, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The Hobart Manufacaifing Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of v Application December 30, 1933, Serial No. 704,782

18 Claims. (Cl. 265 -39) This case relates counter scales or scales of the type used in retail stores to furnish th weight andprice of an article.

In' general, the object is to devise a scale hav- 'ing its parts constructed and arranged with the utmost compactness without thereby limiting the dimensions of the platform or the weightand price ranges of the scale.

More specifically the object is to provide a scale in which the objective of compactness is attained by a cocoon-like or telescoping arrangement of parts. 1

The latter object also includes .the provision of a simple built-up inner chassis which is shaped to conform to the contour of the drum chart and to closely surround the chart.

' A further object is to provide a novel inner chassis for supporting scale parts.

The object is also to provide a scale having the 2 platform above a drum chart with multiplying lever connections between the platform, counterbalancing 'means, and the chart all arranged substantially within the plan projection of the plat- 30 from the descriptionfollowing and from the drawings, in which:

. Fig. 1 is a front view from the merchants side with the outer case in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan section along line 2--2 of Fig. 1. 35 Fig. 3 is a section along line 3-3 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section along line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section along line 6-5 of Fig. 1.' Fig. 7 is a section along line l-l of Fig. 6. 40 I Fig. 8 is asection along line 8--8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a view of the left end of the chassis. Fig. 10 is a view of the right end of the chassis. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the base lever. 'Fig. 12 is a view along line l2-l2 of Fig. 11.

45 Fig. 13 is a view along line i3-l3 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 21 isan enlarged detail end view of the fulcrum support and hold-downmeans.

Fig. .22 is a fragmentary view inperspective of an end of the check link, and Fig. 23 isan enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of Fig. 7 illustrating the parts in greater detail. I The scale will first be generally described.

It comprises an inner chassis including a horizontally disposed semi-cylindrical shell H (see Figs. 5, 9, 10, and 16) supported at opposite ends by attached vertical end plates l2 and 13 adapted to stand upright on a supporting surface. Between the end plates is iournaled horizontal shaft '14 of a drum chart made up of two, spaced, cylindrical sections iii of equal width. Each section bears circumferential weight and value columns, with the value columns based on different unit prices. The arcuate contour of shell II is concentric with respect to the chart periphery. Accordingly, the lower half of the chart lies within the shell II and is closely surrounded thereby, with a minimum of clearance.

Closely encompassing the chassis is a rectanguiar, open, lever 16 (see Figs. 2 and 11) the longitudinal axis of which is generally parallel to the axis of the chart. The lever lies below the upper end of the shell H and is fulcrumed on brackets 11 (see Figs. 3, 8, and 21) rigidly hung from opposite sides of the shell. One end of the lever extends just beyond the right hand end plate I! and is there connected to rack l8 and counterbalancing springs l9 (see Figs. 1, 4, and 18). Rack i8 meshes with pinion 20 on one end of shaft ll to drive the drum chart.

Lever I6 is of the third order and carries the platform support 22 for platform 23. The platform support is of generally inverted Y-shape (see Figs. 5 and 20), vertically disposed in a plane passing between the chart sections I 5, and having .the lever although the width of stem 24 is equal to only a narrow horizontal chord of the upper portion of the chart for a reason which .will be made evident later.

To prevent tilting of the platform structure in the direction of the longitudinal axis of lever I6,

a check lever 26 (see Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and '7) connects the stem 24 to the chassis.

Enclosing the chassis and the weighing parts carried thereby, except the platform, is an outer case 2'! removably secured to the chassis. The

' upper portions of the casing sides slope and converge towards the platform, lying'for themost part directly beneath the platform. This brings the sloping portions, close to the periphery of the chart. It may now be understood why stem 24 of the platform support 22 is made narrow. By so doing, the platform support forms no obstacle to the location of the sloping portions of the casing as close as possible and as desired to the parts of the chart periphery from which readings are to be taken. In the sloping portion close to the chart periphery at the merchants side is provided a cylinder lens 28 under-. lying the platform and having its principal axis inclined upward radially of the chart in line with the inclined sighting plane of an observer of average height looking down at the scale from above the level of the platform. Thus, although the platform is so wide as to extend beyond the opposite peripheral sides of the chart, and therefore overlie the chart at its reading line, the slope of the housing and the sight lens above the reading line of the chart permits an observer looking down from above the level of the platform to read the chart at a point underneath the platform. The sloping portion of the casing 2'! at the customers side contains a narrow sight window 29 for exposing a column of weight figures of the chart to the customer. The advantages of the sloping portion of the casing at the customer's side are similar to those for the merchants side of the scale.

Secured to the end plates '12 and I3 are sight lines 30 for the chart and a plate 3| marked with the unit prices alined with their respective value columns of the chart sections l5.

The above brief description brings out the following characteristics of the scale.

v 1. The scale has a cocoon-like arrangement of one part lying within another; thus the chart lies within the similarly curved chassis shell which below its widest portion is encompassed by a base lever,,which is straddled by a platform support, and the whole enclosed by the outer large without extending beyond the ends of the chart and scale. This is accomplished without sacrificing the advantages of a multiplying base ,lever between the platform and the counterbalance and between the platform and the chart driving means.

3. While the platform is above the center of the split drum chart, the counterbalance and the rack drive are beyond one end of the chart where there is more room than between the drum.

sections and where they are more accessible for assembly, removal, and adjustment.

4. The platform support is similar toa triangular truss having its base bearing .on the lever therefore forming a very stable supporting structure against transverse tilting of the platform and narrowing towards the upper end to permit the upper portions of the outer case to converge and slope to points underneath the plat form and to lie close to the chart periphery.

5. The sloping upper portions of the outer casing sides permit the employment of a platform wider than the chart and the main portion of the casing without interfering with the proper exposure and view of the chart to an ordinary observer.

The general plan or scheme of the scale having been given, the detail means for carrying out the plan will now be described.

Shell H of the chassis (see particularly Figs. 5, 9, 10, 15, and 16) is of sheet metal, stamped to shape, with its longitudinal edges bent to provide horizontal flanges and its semi-circular ends bent to provide vertically disposed end flanges 36.

To stiffen the shell, chiefly against lateral stresses, 9. dished semi-circular plate 31 is set into the shell mid-way of its ends and riveted thereto in a position to lie between the spaced drum chart sections I5 when the scale is assembled. The upper, diametrical, endof the plate is formed at its center with a rounded depression 38 shell ll of greater strength than the rest of theshell because the base lever I6 is supported at these corners, which therefore directly bear the weight of the lever and the parts carried thereby. To strengthen these corners, they are marked off from the rest of the shell byright angular ribs 39 which stiffen the shell at the corners against longitudinal and lateral stresses approximately to the same extent as though the shell, in place of the ribs, were formed of solid metal of the same thickness as the depth of the ribs.

The fulcrum brackets I! are firmly supported by the shell at these left hand comers. The brackets are of sheet metal, stamped to a general U-shape, with the legs 40 terminating at their outer ends in arcuate flanges 4| conforming in shape to the sides of the shell II to which they are riveted. The back of the bracket is flanged over at the .top to provide a horizontal flange 43 to set against the lower surface of flange 35 and be riveted thereto.

The brackets thus virtually become solidly supported, integral parts of the shell ll. Legs 40 of the brackets are out out to form passages 44 to accommodate the long sides of lever I6 which pass therethrough. In this'manner, the width of the levers is less than if the sides thereof were required to pass on the outside-of the brackets. The legs 40 and the back of the bracket are narrowed at their lower ends to form a reduced U- shaped channel 45, between the sides of which is pivoted the angle pin 46 (see Figs. 8 and 21) on which is swiveled the fulcrum block 41. The pin 46 is bent at right angles to be fixed into a plate 48 secured to the base of the channel by a screw 49 (see Fig. 1) which is also threaded into thrust plate 50 inside the channel. Plate 50 engages the end of fulcrum knife edge 5l' extending from lever l6.

Riveted to end flanges 36 of the shell H are the stamped, dished,- end plates I2 and I3. The lower horizontal, flat edges 54 (see Figs. 9 and 10), of the end plates extend below the bottom of shell H and support the chassis inupright position on a convenient surface during the assembly of parts on the chassis.

End plate l2 being close to the reinforced left hand corners of the shell which carry the fulcrum brackets l1 increases the rigidity of these comers and their resistance to deflection under the weight of the lever l6 and its parts. v End plate l2 also carries the ball bearing 55 for the left end of the shaft H (see Figs. 1 and 2). The ball bearing cage 56 is threaded into a tapped hole in the plate Hand held in adjustable position by a. nut 51. 55, the entire chart assembly is shifted axially into its proper position. 7

End plate l3 has a vertical slot 58 open at the top, the purpose of which is to permit the shaft ll carrying the chart sections and pinion 28 to be assembled to the chassis by first inserting the right hand end of the shaft into the slot 58 and then when at the bottom of the slot shifting the shaft towardsthe left into cooperation with the left bearing 55. This enables the use of a chart having a length such that its ends are extremely close to the end plates although its shaft l4 necessarily extends beyond the end plates to be mounted therein and to be driven by rack I8. It further enables the chart to be removed and replaced without requiring removal of the left bearing 55 and readjustment of the latter.

In punching out slot 58, the metal at the lower end of the slot is cut only at one side and is then bent over at right angles to the plane of the plate I3 to form an ear 58. This car rotatably mounts a guide roller 68 for rack 18. Also fastened to the ear by screws 6! is a bracket 62 (see Figs. 1, 4, and 18) which journals the companion guide roller 63 of rack l8. The outer end of the bracket 62 is bent at right angles to the earr58 to form a lug 64, the tip of which is hardened and formed as a ball bearing 65 for the right hand end of shaft l4.

' By the use of the removable bracket 62, the shaft Il may be slipped into position in the chassis throughthe slot 58 in end plate l3 before the bracket is put on, and then the bracket moved in ,a direction axial of theshaft to be secured to car 58 with bearing 65 engaging the right end of the shaft 14. This permits the chart to be substantially as long as the chassis and yet have its shaft supported by a bearing which does not require a separate standard or upright but is carried by the end plate l3 itself. A further purpose of the removable bracket 62 and the mounting of only one guide roller 68 on thechassis plate I3 is that the bracket 62 and its parts may be secured to the end plate l3 whfle rack I8 is in mesh with pinion28.

Thus, should it be necessary to replace the chartafter the scale mechanism including the rack is in place on the chassis, all that needs to be done is to remove the bracket 82, slip the chart and its shaft off the end plates, and then insert a new chart, and replace the bracket 62. I a

A still further advantage in the use of the removable bracket 62 over the formation of a bracket integral with the end plate I3 is that the bearing portion of the bracket may be hardened and machined with far greater facility than if it were integral with the end plate.

and legs, respectively, of a continuously channeled By adjustment of the bearing of the lever.

U-shaped member. The fourth and front side 69 of the lever is the base of a stamped U-shaped bar welded at its sides to the long sides 68. and 68'. Also welded to the bottom of sides 61, 68, and 68' are reinforcing plates 18.

Fulcrum knife edges 5| of the lever and load knife edges 1| extend from the opposite long sides 68 and 68f of the lever. The knifeedges are rigidly and non-adjustably carried by plates 12 riveted to the lever sides.

As counterbalancing springs l8 vary in temper and resistant strength with changes in temperature, compensation therefor is provided by a thermostatic device to vary the effective lever arm of the springs on lever l6. This device, in the present case, comprises a thermostat metal bar 14 housed inside the closed channel of the rear side 61 of the lever l6. The bar 14 is clamped at one end to the side 61 and its other end extends in line with the closed channel in the long side 68 The movable end of bar is piv otally connected at 15 to a link 16 housed within the channel of the long side 68 of the lever and passing therethrough to project a short distance past the front of the lever. Also projecting forwardly past the front of the lever is an extension of lever side 68. Parallel to this extension is a bracket 11 fastened to the front of side 68 of the lever. One end of the nose iron knife edge 18 is formed with a trunnion 19 eccentric to the bearing line of the knife edge. The trunnion is journaled in bracket 11. The other end of nose iron 18 is fastened to a horizontal plate 88 forming an integral right angularly bent part of the short arm 8| of a bell crank lever 82 pivoted in" line with trunnion 18, in the forward extension of lever side 68. The longer arm 83 of lever 82 is formed with a vertical slot 84 through which freely passes the body of a screw 85 threaded into a nut 86 having a smooth round terminal portion 81 seated in a hole in the front end of link 16. The screw 85 may be loosened and the front end of link 16 moved along slot 84 to vary the effective lever arm of link 16 on bell crank lever 82. When the proper ratio between the arms of the lever 82 is obtained, the screw 85 is turned to firmly clamp the opposite sides of lever arm 83 between nut 86 and the head of the screw.

Due to temperature changes, the free end of thermostat bar 14 will move substantially len'gthwise. of the lever, transmitting this motion through link 16 to the bell crank lever 82 to rock the nose iron 18, thereby shifting the position of the bearing line of the nose iron longitudinally of the lever. The distance the nose iron is shifted depends on the ratio of arms 81 and 83 of the bell crank lever and by adjusting the forward endof link 16 along arm 83, in the manner de-' scribed above, the ratio will be changed to provide the necessary movement of the nose iron knife edge. The moment arm of the springs l8 on the base lever [6 will thus be automatically varied with temperature changes. I

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 17, the connection between the lever l6 and the springs 19, is effected through the nose iron 18 supported on a bearing block 88 swivel'edb'etween thesides of a U-shaped clip 89 fast to the top of a channeled equalizer bar 88. Bar 90 has lugs 8| at opposite ends to connect with the lower ends of the springs 19. The upper ends of the springs are mounted to thermostatic metal strips.92, rigidly secured at the lower ends to the end plate l3 of the chassis and slidably, loosely, guided at their upper ends by vertical pins 83 (see Figs. 1

and carried by the end plate I3. The strips 92 are thus free to move vertically due to tem- Rack I8 for driving pinion 20 on the chart shaft I4 is carried by a rack foot 95 which passes through a hole in the top of the channeled equalizer bar 98 and is swiveled in the channel on a 7 pin 91 supported between the sides of the equalizer channel. To bias the rack I8 towards the pinion, the outer, free, end of the rack foot 95 is provided with a weight 98.

By supporting the rack I8 in the same general plane as the equalizer, the motion of the rack is more truly vertical than if it were connected to the lever beyond the equalizer bar. Further, the arrangement requires less space in a longitudinal direction than if the equalizer bar andrack were in separate vertical planes.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 20, the load knife edges 'II of the lever I6 carry the inverted Y-shaped platform support 22. The support is of sheet metal'and formed of two vertical half-shells, symmetrically disposed with respect to a central vertical plane through support 22. The half shells are provided with flanges which when welded to each other produce a virtually integral, hollow member with a four-sided cross-section (see Fig. 2) providing for a maximum rigidity for a minimum weight of metal. Legs of support 22 straddle the long sides 68 and 68' of the fever I6.' The lower ends of the legs open towards the lever to receive the load knife edges II of the lever on which restthe bearing blocks I00 pivotally, mounted between the sides of the lower ends of legs 25.

Fastened to one of legs 25 by bolts IOI (see Figs. 1 and 2) is an angle bracket I02 from the outer end of which is pivotally suspended the plunger I03 of the dash pot I04. The dash pot is mounted on a bracket I05 with an arcuate base riveted to the side of shell II. I

The platform assembly is mounted on top of stem 24 of the platform support and comprises a spider consisting of a substantially flat plate I06 (see particularly Figs. 5 and 19) to the bottom of which are welded similar, complemental, brackets I0I. The brackets I01 are stamped to shape out of sheet metal, each with a pair of depending adjacent angular walls to which the angular depending walls of the other bracket form a counterpart so that when both brackets are fixed to plate I06, the pairs of depending walls complement each other to form a single, depending, substantially rectangular socket I08.

The socket I08 non-rotatably fits over the similarly shaped upper end of stem 24 of support 22. The upper end of stem 24 has vertical slots I09 open at the top to receive bolts IIO which pass through ali'ned holes in opposite walls of socket I08. Below the bottom of slots I09, the stem 24 has oblong slots. III to receive the downwardly bent ends of clips II2 (see Figs. 1 and 5) carried by the bolts IIO outside the opposite walls of the socket I08. When nuts I I3 are tightened on the bolts, the bentends of the clips wedgingly coact with the oblong slits I II to firmly force the platform spider plate I06 down into engagement with the upper edges of the stem 24.

Platform 23 is carried on spider plate I06 and has a downwardly and inwardly curled rimtc form a reentrant channel II4. Plate I06 and platform 28 are rectangular but plate I06 is -of bracket I'I.

slightly shorter in one direction to permit movement of the platform along the plate I06 in said direction, and to enable the corners of plate I06 to move into the channel II4 cf the platform. To secure the platform to the plate in this position, screwsv II5 welded to the bottom of the platform pass through slots H6 in the plate I06 and carry knurled nuts II'I which are turned to clamp the platform to the plate. To prevent the screws from being misplaced, they are permanently retained on the screws by upsetting the ends of the screws. Slots II6 communicate with round holes I I8 in plate I06 which are larger than nuts Hi. I

To remove the platform, the nuts I H are loosened and the platform moved in the direction of the slots to release the channel II4 from the edges of the plate I06 and to locate thenuts II! in line with holes I I8. The platform is then free to belifted off the plate I06.

The entire platform assembly is readily removed from stem 24 by loosening the bolts IIO until clips II2 disengage slits III, leaving the platform assembly free to be lifted off stem 24.

When load is placed to one extreme side of platform 23, the division of load transmitted by the platform support to one long side of lever I6 is greater than that transmitted to the other long side. The lever therefore has a tendency to tilt transversely about the connection of its nose iron I8 to the equalizer 90 as an axis, tending to raise one fulcrum knife edge 5I of the lever off its bearing. To prevent this,,means are provided to constantly hold the knife edges firmly to their bearing blocks 41.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 8, and 21, these means are housed entirely in the interior of fulcrum brackets I1 and include rollers I20, one for each fulcrum pivot 5|. The shaft I2I of each roller has pointed ends to coact with conical depressions in plates I22 and I23 for providing a very eflicient rotary bearing for the roller. Plates I22 and I23 are rigidly secured to each other by screws I24 and plate I22 has vertical slots I25 to coact with guide pins I26 fastened in the base The guide pins mount the plates and roller for vertical slidable movement and coil springs I2I secured between the plates and the bracket I'I urge the roller I20 downwardly into contact with the rounded surface I28 formed at the end of the pivot 5|.

The roller is vertically movable instead of fixed in location for the following reasons. First, if, as by someone violently striking the platform at one side, a fulcrum pivot 5| is urged upwardly Third, if the periphery of the roller is not perfectly true, the springs will still hold the roller firmly engaged with the pivot.

When the pivot rocks under a load appliedto the lever, the-surface I28 tends to frictionally rotate the roller. made as large as possible to cause it to turn freely under the very small turning forces exerted bysurface I28. This fact taken with the fine pointbearing of the roller shaft I2I reduces 75 I The diameter of the roller is between the roller and the spe -:12

to a bare minimum the resistance of the roller I20 to rocking of the pivots during a weighing operation. Further, the roller andsurface I28 engage at a point in a line joining their centers, so that the force of the springs I21 transmitted through the roller is directed radially against surface I28, thus avoiding any possibility of any camming action to turn the pivot.

Referring particularly to Figs. 11 and 13, to provide a zeroadjustment for the scale mechanism, lever I6 carries a weight in the form of a bar I32 slidably mounted to long side 68' of the lever by guide studs I33 passing through longi: tudinal slots I34 in the bar. The studs pass 'through holes in the side 68 and are pressed by springs I35 to frictionally engage the surface of bar I32 to prevent any'tendency of the bar to creep along the lever. The forward end of the bar is bent transversely and threaded to receive a screw I36 journaled in bracket I31 secured to.

the side 68'. The screw I36.is fixed against longiudinal movement by a stud I38 extending from side 68' into a groove I33 in the screw.

The head I40 of the screw is adapted to be engaged by a screw driver for turning the screw to shift the bar I32 longitudinally of the lever and thereby adjust the zero position of the weighing mechanism.

To stiffen the chassis and brace it, particularly at the upper end, against lateral and longitudinal stresses,'an oblong cap I42 is provided for the upper end of the chassis. The cap I42 comprises a dished sheet metal plate flanged downwardly on all sides. After the drum chart is inserted in the chassis, the cap I42 may be secured to the top, horizontal flanges I43 of the end plates I2 and I3 by means of bolts I44. The chassis is now complete and is braced against stresses in all directions substantially in the same manner and to the same degree as a hollow beam with closed ends.

The details of the connections of check link 26 to the frameand the platform stem will now be explained with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7.

The check link is formed of sheet metal with a rib I45 extending longitudinally along the check link and transversely branched at its ends. By

means of this rib, the check link, in effect, is

substantially as rigid as a solid bar having a thickness equal to the depth of the ribs. One end of the check link is connected to cap I42 of the frame. For this purpose, cap I 42 is formed with a rectangular, inset or depressed hole I46, having horizontal margins, of which one, I 41, is bent vertically downward to form a depending, vertical, flange I48. Margin or ledge I41 carries an angle bracket I43, the vertical portion I43 of which passes downwardly through hole I46 to be positioned generally parallel to flange I48.

The bracket I43 is secured to ledge I41 by means of two screws I50 and a screw II located between screws I50. Screws I50 are threaded into the top of bracket I43 and abut the top of ledge I41 while screw I5I passes freely through the top of bracket I43 and is threaded into the ledge. Both screws I50 and I5I must be turned to shift the bracket I43 vertically to locate the fulcrumed end of the checklink at the height required togive the proper parallelogram action in conjunction with base lever I6. ,Thus to lower the bracket, the screws I50 must be raised and then screw I5I turned down. When the bracket is sufficiently lowered, screws. I50 are turned pivot which may tend down to abut the ledge I 41 and thereby lock'the bracket in position. i The fulcrum of the check link is the bracket is riveted an end thrust plate I52.

The end of check, link 26 is reduced in width to form a tongue I53 passing through horizontally formed as -follows: To the face of vertical portion I43 of extending narrow slit I54 in plate I52 formed with inclined walls and loosely through widerand alined slots I55 and I56, respectively, in bracket portion I43 and flange I48.

In making the check link, stiffening rib I 45,=

In rear of tongue I53, the check link is formed with a holes I51, tongues I53, and the knife edged 'front of hole I51 and the knife edges I53 are all die shaped and punched in the same operation. The portions of thrust plate I52 at opposite sides of slit I54 engage the knife edges I53. Passing through hole plate I51 is another end thrust ISI for engaging the front knife edge of hole I51. in line with the sharp edge I62 of slit I54 which engages the bottom of tongue I53. In this manner, a sharp, two-way, thrust bearing is provided for one end of the check link which at the same time forms a sharply defined line fulcrum for the check link.

Smooth portions of screws I63 pass freely though without play, through alined holes in thrust plate I6I and the flange I48 and through vertically elongated and alined slots I64 in the bracket portion I43 and thrust plate I52. The screws I63 thus serve as guide pins coacting with slots I64 for guiding vertical adjustment of the bracket I43 and the end of the check link connected thereto. Due to hole I46 being formed in a depression in cap I42, bracket I43 and screws I50 and I5I may lie below the top of outer casing 2'1.

The right end of the check link is connected to the stem 24 of the platform support in a manner similar to the left end but without provision for vertical adjustment.

Cap I42 is also formed in the stamping operation with a depression I65 (see Figs. 1 and 2) having two narrow grooves I66 and I61 in the base of the depression at right angles to eachother in which are laid the glass vials I68 containing the spirit levels. The levels are retained in the recesses by a plate I63 fastened by screws I to the cap I42. Upon removing the-platform assembly from platform support 22, the levels are visible through opening 112 in the casing 21.

\ By being set inside a recess I65, there is no danger that the casing 21 when being placed in position will break the glass vials I68.

End plates I2 and I3, at their lower ends are formed with horizontally bent lugs I thread edly receiving screws I16, the heads I11 01 which form the leveling feet of the scale. 7 plate I18 encloses the scale at thebottomand is fastened in place by the leveling screws I16 .'with spring washers I13 located between the The knife edges of the check link are A bottom and substitutions and changes in the form anddetails of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1'. A scale comprising a load'platform, a drum chart .horizontally disposed directly underneath the platform and formed in'separated drum sections, a hollow inner chassis encompassing the chart, and having vertically disposed end closures for journaling the chart between them, counterbalancing means vertically disposed directlyopposite to and exterior to one of the end closures and supported thereby, a base lever below the middle of the chart with its longitudinal of the counterbalancing means, and a rigid, vertically disposed, underlying support for the platform passing between said drum sections to be operatively connected at its lower end with the base lever.

2. A scale comprising a load platform, a drum chart horizontally disposed directly underneath the platform and formed inseparated drum sections, a shaft for the drum chart, a hollow inner chassis encompassing the chart and having vertically disposed end closures for journaling said shaft between them, counterbalancing means movable in a vertical plane generally parallel and exterior to one of the end closures and supported thereby, a base lever having its longitudinal axis generally'parallel to said shaft, one end of the shaft having a portion extending slightly past that end closure which supports the counterbalancing means, a driven element on said shaft portion, a driving element engaging the driven element, a. member operated by one end of the base lever, separate connections from this member to the counterbalancing means and to the driving element for operating the counterbalancing means and rotating the chart in accordance with the load, and a rigid, vertically disposed, underlying support for the platform straddling the chart shaft between the spaced sections ofthe chart and operatively connected at its lower end to the base lever.

3. A scale comprising a load platform, ahorizontally disposed drum 'chart underneath the platform and formed in spaced drum sections, a shaft for the drum chart, a hollow inner chassis encompassing the chart and having vertical end closures for journal'ing the chart shaft between them, a base lever having its longitudinal axis tween the drum sections, and connections above a and. below the middle of the chart from the platformsi pport to the check lever and base lever, respectively.

4. A scale comprising a load platform, a single, vertically disposed, underlying, central support for-the platform, a check lever and a'base lever connected to the support at vertically spaced points, a horizontally" disposed drum chart extending between the check and base levers to lie directly underneath the platform with its axis passing through the platform support in -a direction transverse to the plane'o-f the support,

the chart being formed in separate sections, one

terbalancing means and chart driving means operatively connected to the base lever.

' 5. A scale comprising a load platform, a drum chart horizontally disposed to underlie the platform, and formed in spaced drum sections, an inner chassis encompassing the chart and having generally vertical end closures for journal ing the chart betweenthem, a base lever fulcrumed on the inner chassis andunderlying the chart with its longitudinal axis extending-parallel to the axis of rotation of the chart, counterbalancing means and chart driving means operated by the base lever, a single, rigid, central, platform stem supporting the platform upon its upper end and vertically depending between the spaced drum sections into connection with the base lever, and an outer inverted cup-shaped case for enclosin'gthe chart and inner chassis and having a single opening in the top through which the platform stem passes into the interior of the case to be connected to said lever.

6. A scale comprising an inner hollow chassis with vertical end members, a horizontally disposed drum chart nested within the chassis and base lever encompassing the chassis and ful crumed thereon, a load platform above the chassis, operating connections depending from the platform to the lever, counterbalancing means journaled between the end members thereof, a

operated-by the lever, and chart rotating means connected to the lever.

7. A scale comprising ahorizontally disposed fulcrums for the lever, fulcrum supports rigidly hung from said lower chassis portion for supporting said fulcrums, a load platform-above the level of the chassis, dependingioperating connections from the platform to the lever, and counterbalancing means and chart rotating means operated by the lever.

8. A scale comprising a cylindrical computingchart, an inner chassis having a lower portion of generally semi-cylindrical contour substantially concentric with the chart periphery to closely ports provided on the chassis for journaling the chart between them, a base lever of open, rectangular, formation surrounding the semi-cylinder chassis portion below the middle'of the chart, fulcrums externallycarried by the sides of said chassis portion for fulcruming the opposite sides of the lever, a load platform above the level of the chart, a platform stern depending from the platform to. the lever, counterbalancing means carried by the chassis, operating connections between the counterbalancing means and the surround the lower half of the chart, end sup- 10 at each side of the platform support, and counlever, and chart rotating means controlled by the lever.

9. The scale as defined inv claim 8, said chart being formed in ttspaced sections, said platform lying directly abovesaid sections, said platform stem passing downwardlyjo the lever through the space between said sections, and the connections between the lever and counterbalancing means being from one end of the lever which extends past an end support of the chassis 10. As a subcomb'ination in a scale,fa drum chart, a hollow inner chassis closely surroimding the chart and having vertical end closures, a shaft for the chart longer than the chassis to project past one of the end closures, a slot in the latter one of the closures open at the top to form a passage for said projecting end of the shaft when inserting the chart into the chassis, and a bearing assembly for said projecting shaft end extending transversely to the plane of the end closure and projecting externally beyond the chassis end.

11. A scale comprising-a horizontally disposed computing drum chart and its shaft, an inner chassis with a lower, hollow, portion conforming in general contour to the lower portion of the chart to closely encompass the-said chart portion, an open baselever branched to straddle said lower portion of the, chassis, fulcrum supports rigidly provided on the exterior of the chassis and carrying fulcrums for fulcruming the base lever,a load platform above the chassis, operating connections depending from the platform to the lever, counterbalancing means .carried by the exterior of the chassis, chart rotating means, and operating connections from the base lever to the counterbalancing means and the chart rotate ing means. a

12. As a suboombination in a scale, agdrum chart and shaft therefor, vertical end supports for journaling the shaft, one end of the shaft having a pinion extending past an end support,

a rack for operating the pinion, a guide roller for one side of the rack carried by the last-mentioned" end support, and a removable bracket secured to the latter'end support provided with a bearing assembly for said shaftend and a guide roller for the other side of the rack, said bracket being removable endwise of the chart shaft.

13. As a subcombination in a scale, a check lever of sheet metal having a longitudinally extending-stamped out reinforcing rib, a terminal tongue extending longitudinally from one end of the check lever and of less width than the check lever, said end of the lever being formed at opposite sides of'the tongue with transversely extending, stamped. knife edge shoulders, said check lever having a punched opening intermediate the. shoulders with the enclosing wall 'of the shoulders, and end thrust elements engaging the alined knife edges.

14. As a subcombination in a scale, a drum chart, a chassis having a lowershell portion for encompassing the chart and having end members for journaling the chart, a lever of open, branched formation for operating the chart and encompassing the shell, fulcrum bracket's carrying fulcrums for opposite branches of the lever rigidly hung from corners ofthe shell at the same end of the latter, and an angular reinforcing rib marking off each said corner from the rest of the shell.

15. As a subcombination in a scale, a chassis shell, a base lever, a fulcrum bracket therefor comprising a sheet metal U-shaped member, the legs of which terminate in flanges secured to a side of the shell, said legs being cut away to provide passages through which the lever may pass, a fulcrum block carried by the bracket at the side of the lever opposite the shell, and a pivot extending from the lever into bearing engagement with said fulcrum block.

16. As a subcombination in a scale, a platform,

a platform spider comprising a substantially flat.

plate on which the platform is'carried, and a pair of sheetmetal plates, each with 8. depending angular projection forming the complementary corner of a socket when both the latter plates are welded to the flat plate, a lever, and a vertical support pivotally mounted on the lever and having its upper end shaped to fit into the said socket to carry the entire platform assembly.

1''. As a.- subcombination in a scale,-a platform structure provided with a depending collar, a platform support having its upper end shaped to fit into the collar, and means for securing the platform structure to the support comprising generally horizontally disposed threaded securing elements carried by thesides of the collar and passing loosely through the sides of the support, and generally vertically disposed clips carried by the threaded securing elements and having inclined portions engaging the support to cam the platform structure down on the top of the support when the threaded elements are tightened.

1.8. As a subcombination in a scale, a lever, a

-counterbalancing spring, a nose pivot on the lever, a connection from the nose pivot to the spring for operating the latter upon rocking of the lever; means for rotatably mounting the nose pivot in the lever, a thermostat carried by the 

